The Date on Her Wrist
Imagine a world where everyone has the date they will meet their soulmate tattooed on their wrist from birth. Write a love story about a character who, as the date approaches, starts to question the concept of destiny and soulmates, especially after meeting someone who doesn't align with what they expected, just weeks before their supposed destined meeting.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Put them in close quarters they can't escape.
- Tell it from the point of view of the one who falls first.
- Write the first meeting so it goes badly, in a way they'll laugh about later.
Writing romance books
Not whether they end up together, but how.
Romance puts a love story at the center and promises a happy ending: happily ever after, or at least happy for now. Readers know where it's going. The pleasure is in the obstacles, the banter and the moment the two leads finally stop fighting it.
What readers expect
- Two leads the reader roots for
- Obstacles that keep them apart
- Emotional growth, not just attraction
- A happy ending, guaranteed
A tip before you start
The happy ending isn't optional. Without it you've written a love story, and romance readers will tell you so.
More Contemporary Romance prompts
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- Love Across the ScreenCreate a tale based on a couple dealing with long-distance relationship challenges. They keep their love alive through creative online dates, shared…
- Letters in the BookstoreWrite a story about a character who inherits an old bookstore and discovers a series of love letters hidden in various books throughout the store. As…
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